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Pets and Divorce

To many of us, pets are beloved members of the family, important and special to us, and it hurts to think of having to lose our furry friends. But in a divorce, they are property like everything else, and as painful as it is, they have to go somewhere.

It is not uncommon in divorce proceedings for the ownership of pets to be treated similarly to the custody of children. In many cases, arguing spouses attempt to establish that the pet will be better cared for and happier in their respective homes. And you can’t put a price on the value of Fido’s wagging tail and playful fun.

Dividing Fido

Unlike kids, you can’t really divide custody of a dog, so you have to establish definitively who will have ownership of your pet. Here are some suggestions to make the painful task a little bit easier:

Who purchased the pet in the first place is important. If your husband came into the relationship with the dog, then he should be allowed to leave the relationship with the dog. Conversely, if your husband gave you the dog as a gift, you have more of a claim on it than he does.

Who provided more care for the pet is also important. If your wife was the one who took the cat to the vet, bought it food, and made sure to give it its medication, she may have more right to Mittens than you do.

It is also important to consider who will have custody of the children. While it may be painful to lose both the kids and the dog, letting your children keep it may be the more responsible thing to do. A pet can help smooth the strange transition children face when their parents get a divorce.

At the end of the day, though, these points are just suggestions. Every divorce is different, and you will have to come to terms with the issue of who owns the pet yourselves.

Contact Us

If you and your spouse are considering the difficult choice a divorce, or would like to know more about your options, contact the San Diego divorce lawyers of Fischer & Van Thiel, LLP by calling 858-935-6211.

Mike's Top FAQs About Divorce

401K plans and divorce

Question Detail

If my spouse waives his right to my 401k plan, is there any circumstance that the court will still award him half or a portion of my 401k plan?

Answer

It is theoretically possible that a court can disturb an agreement to waive rights to property, but it is unlikely. Courts will generally treat agreements as contracts, and thus are likely to strike an agreement only if it is unconscionable, induced by fraud, undue influence, duress or is against public policy. The judge cannot “reject,” nullify, or modify the provisions of an agreement merely because of his or her personal belief that a different arrangement should be made.

A marital settlement agreement, or MSA, can be used as a contract between spouses regarding the division of property that would otherwise be subject to community property laws. An MSA is subject to general contract laws, meaning that it can be found invalid if terms are against public policy (which includes, but is not limited to, (a) abrogating the statutory child support duty or impinging on the court’s jurisdiction to award child support, (b) limiting the court’s exercise of child custody jurisdiction, (c) “altering legal relations,” (d) “promoting dissolution,” and (e) providing for “fault”-based penalties at marriage dissolution) . The MSA can also be found invalid if entered into as a result of fraud, duress, menace, undue influence, or other factors which may make the agreement void or invalid. Generally, an agreement such as the MSA is favored. Hence, if there are no legal or equitable grounds for rescission or reformation it is binding on the parties and the court without express approval.

Can I get child support in California if I am not getting a divorce?

Question Detail

I have been separated for two years from my wife, and my kids live with me. Can I get support without filing for divorce in California? We have not been living together since our separation, and even file taxes separately.

Answer

You do not need to file for divorce in order to get support. You will need to go through the court to obtain a child support order so you will have to file something. You can contact your local Department of Child support services office and they can help you get started. So while you do not have to file for divorce, you can file for a legal separation. The court needs to know that you two have in fact separated and there is one parent who is the full time provides and therefore in need of support.

Can I move out with my daughter before the divorce in California?

Question Detail

My wife and I are going to divorce, but we have not filed yet. We are always fighting, and my daughter, who is 7, is very stressed with the way we are living. Can I move out with her, if I do not move far away and let him see her all the time? He is not happy with my choice. Is this legal?

Answer

Yes, you can move out with your daughter, assuming there are no court orders already in place regarding custody and visitation. It is important to maintain frequent and continuing contact between the child and the other parent. When the court makes custody and visitation orders they will look highly upon the parent who facilitated contact with the child and the other parent. It is important to make the transition as easy as possible for the child.

Question: Is there a statute of limitations on owed child support?

Question Detail

An ex lover of mine (20 years ago) just approached me out of nowhere about getting tested to see if her son is my child. He is 20 and I live in California. I am trying to find the statue of limitations for child support if indeed I take the test and the child turns out to be mine.

Answer

Unless the mother has made a claim for child support with the welfare office or her local Department of child support services office, they cannot now collect from you on child support. Since he is no longer a minor child now that he is emancipated, there are no obligations for child support. You can get tested to see if you are the father, but you do not have to.

If the state has paid out welfare for the child, and it turns out that you are the Father, there can be some potential liability there with having to pay back the state the money they paid out. If this is not an issue, then they cannot now ask you to pay for child support.

Is the opinion of the child ever taken into consideration in a divorce?

Answer

Typically the Courts will take the child’s opinion into consideration at the age of 12. There is no set age, it depends on the maturity level of the child. If a child is of sufficient age and capacity to form an intelligent preference to custody the court can take it into consideration. It is important to note that all judges will rule for what is in the child’s best interests whether it be for the mother or the father.